True Patriot Love Foundation is proud and excited to introduce....

Team True Patriot Love, a cycling team made up of 8 young professionals – and great friends - living in Toronto. This team has partnered with the True Patriot Love Foundation as they embark on the Race Across America (RAAM), a non-stop cycling race starting in Oceanside, California, spanning 4,800 kms, climbing over 50,000 meters, crossing through 12 states, and then finishing in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Team has completed multi-day, long distance cycling trips together for the last eight years. They collectively decided to take on a new challenge to push themselves to the absolute limit, both physically and mentally. With commitment and support from each other, and their families and friends, to drive awareness about the importance of supporting the well being of our military families, and of course to make Canada proud along the way
“On behalf of Team True Patriot Love, we are truly honoured to partner with such a fantastic foundation and are excited to raise money for such a worthy cause”, says teammate Brady Jones. “We look forward to an amazing journey that will benefit the True Patriot Love Foundation and Canadian heroes.”

For information on sponsorships or RAAM details, contact the team at: info@TeamTPL.com

With courage and grace, Mark Walden embodied strength and dedication throughout his life. Our foundation was deeply saddened to hear of Mark’s passing from leukemia this past August. Mark’s love of family and country saw him proudly follow in his father, Jim Walden’s footsteps by serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. An infantry officer for 15 years with the Royal Canadian Regiment and later with 32 Brigade, Mark retired from military life in 2007 and carried forward his exceptional leadership and vision to civilian life. A founding member of Treble Victor Group and an early supporter of the Invictus Games Toronto 2017, Mark was a friend and a mentor to many. After retirement from the Canadian Armed Forces, Mark continued to build his good name in commercial banking at the Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal and Cranston Capital. Mark’s spirit lives on through his family, including his wife, Samieth Walden, and the countless people he has mentored, encouraged and supported throughout his luminary life. Mark, thank you for your service. It was an honour to have known you. May you rest in peace.

Equi-sens Equine Therapy

Based in Terrebonne, Quebec, Equi-sens offers equine therapy for Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans living with mental illnesses including Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The program was a grant recipient of the Bell TPL Fund 2015.

The Bell True Patriot Love Fund is a $1-million program in partnership with Bell Let's Talk and provides grants to community mental health initiatives for Canadian military families, veterans and serving members. Since its launch, the Fund has provided 48 grants to programs delivered through MFRCs and other charities that work to improve access to mental health care in military communities across Canada. The 2016 Bell TPL Fund is now CLOSED.

Thank you to each organization for your interest and submission. The Bell TPL assessment process is currently underway. With the insight and experience of our partners at Bell Let’s Talk and TPL’s Disbursement Advisory Committee, the TPL Board of Directors will be provided with expert advice on granting. The Committee is composed of national representation from government, military, academia and community leaders. Organizations will be notified of decision in early Fall 2016.

With September upon us, we are officially only one year away from hosting the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 Organizing Committee has been working around the clock to make these the best Invictus Games yet. We intend to deliver a memorable and healing experience to all competitors, as well as their family members and friends, who will be coming from around the world to demonstrate their unconquerable spirit and challenge the stigma around physical and mental wounds.

A unique aspect of the Invictus Games is the emphasis on the families of the competitors and not just the competitors themselves. The reason is simple: When a service member enlists, so does their family.

Our Games recognize that, although less often considered, the sacrifices military families make to support their enlisted loved one are equally as great as those made by the service members themselves.

In honour of their sacrifice, the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 will see that competitors arrive in Toronto next fall accompanied by their families and friends. Whether they are coming from Australia, France, Afghanistan or the UK, we vow to take care of our military families, to put our arms around each and every one of them and give them the recognition they so deserve.

The Invictus Games Toronto 2017 may be a one-week event, but we are committed to making this a year-long conversation, raising awareness of, and support for, our ill and injured service members and the military families who support them. And so, we ask you to please continue to follow our activities over the next 12 months and help us to spread the Invictus Games spirit in communities across Canada and beyond. There will be exciting announcements coming up over the next few weeks, so make sure to follow us on social media @InvictusToronto to remain in the know!